THE SKETCHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 49

THE SKETCHER.

THE MYSTERIES OF BLACK MAGIC. Startling Story by a Pupil of Lord lytton's. * In Borderland for this quarter there is published in the Gallery of Borderlanders some fragments from the " Autobiography , of a Magician," signing himself " Tantriadolto," which is oca of the most startling stories of sensation that has appeared for many a long day. The author, who is personally known to me (says Mr Stead in the Review of Reviews), vouches for the absolute accuracy of his statements— they are of & character that # no one else oculd possibly vouch for. They deal with the phenomenon of the double, the mjsteriea of Obeahism, the art of rain-making, the marvels of Indian fakirs, tho wonders of hypnotic adventure, and some astounding tricks of Mr Jacob of Simla, who is reputed to ba ths original of Mr Crauford's "Mr Isaacs." Baron Munohauven himself hardly could outdo the veraoioui narrative of this marvellous Mnge. ■ LORD LTTTON'S DOUBLE. Here, for instance, is his etory of hid initiation by Lord Lytton. Ho had previously had strange experiences in exchanging souls and observing doubles, so that he was well disposed to become a pupil of Lord Lytton: When he first met tho author of " Zanoni," be did some oryat&l-gazicg, after whioh he agreed to, study magio under Lyfcton'a guidance. " Three nights from this," said Lord Lytton, " I will call upon you." : "On the third evening I never left my rooms after dinner, but lit up my pips and remained anxiously awaiting Sir Edward's arrival. Hour after hour passed, but no visitor, and I determined to sit up all night if need be, feeling that he would come. "He did ; but not in the way I expected. I happened to look up from the book* which I was vainly attempting, to read, and my glance fell upon the empty arm-chair on tho other side of the fire-place. Was I dreaming, or did I actually see a filmy form, scarcely more than a shadow, apparently seated there ? I awaited developments, and watched. Second by second the fijm grew more dense until it became something like Sir Edward. I knew then that it was all rigbt, and eat still as the form grew more and more distinct;, until at last it was apparently tho master himself sitting opposite me — alive and in propria persona. I instantiy rose to' shake hands with bim, but as I gob- within touching distance he vanished instantly. X knew then that it was only tome variety of the Scln-Looca that I had seen. ' It was my first experience of this, and I stood there in doubt what to do. Just then his voice whispered close to my ear, io that I even felb his warm breath, 'Come. 1 I turned sharply I round, but of course no one was there. • I instantly put on my hat and greatcoat to go to bis hotel, bnt when I got to the corner of the first street, down whioh I should turn to get there, his voice said 'Straight on.' O£ coarse I obeyed implicitly. In & few minutes more, ' Gross ov»r ' ; and so guided, I came where he was. Wliere matters not, bat it was certainly one ol the lait places iv which I should have expeoted to find bim. " I entered. He was standing in tho middl

of tb.9 sacred pentagon, which ha had drawn upon the floor with red chalk, and holding in his extended right arm the baguette, which' was pointed towards me. Standing thus, he asked me if I had duly considered the matter and decided to enter upon the course. I replied that my mind was made up. He then and there administered to mo the oaths of a neophyte of the Hermetic lodge of Alexandria—the'oaths of obedience and secrecy. It is self-evident that any farther account of my exp-srietces with Lord Lytton, or in Hermetic circle?, is impossible." I have only room for one of hiß stories, that describing his experiences with Mr Jacob of Simla. He was invited to dine with Mr Jacob one evening with a wellknown general, and had driven over from his bungalow, a distance of three-quarters of a mile. GRAPES GEOWN ON A WALKING-STICK. " After dinner, when they were tmoking, our host was asked by the general to show us some what he called 'tricks.' I could see that Jacob didn't like the word ; but he pimply «aid,' 4 Y«B, I will show you a trick. 1 Then he told a gervaot to bring in all the sahibs' walking-sticks. Selecting one, a thick grape-vine stick with a silver band, he B»id, 'Whose is this?' It was claimed by the general, ?nd a glass bowl of water, Bimilar to those in which goldfish are kept, was placed on the table. Mr Jacob then Bimply stood the stick on "its knob in the "water and held it uptight for a few moment^. T^ien we saw scores of shoots like rootlets issuing from U<e knob till they filled the bowl atd held lie stick 'upright, Jacob standing over it and mutteriDg all the time. In' a few minutea more a continuous crackling sound was beard, and Bboot*, young twigs, began rapidly putting forth from the tipper part of the stick. These grew and grew : they became clothed with leaves and flowered before our eyes, The flowers bscame changed to Bmall bunches of grapes, and in 10 minutes frcm the commet cement a fine healthy standard vine loaded with bunches of ripe black Hambnrgs stood before db. A eervant carried it roucd, and we all helped ourselves to the f tuit. "It struck me. at the time that this might only be some (to me new) ftrni of hypnotic delusion. 80, while eatirg my bunch, I carefully transferred half of it to my pooket, to see if tbf y were there the next day. " When the tree was replaced on the table Jacob ordered it to be covered with a sheet, and in a few minutes there was nothing there fcnt the general's stick, apparently none the worse for its -tfciaeitndes." INSTANT TBAKSPOETATION THEOI7GH KFACB II Many other equally interesting examples of psychio force were given, until the time came for us to break up, when Mr Jacob requested a few words privately with me fcef are we left. I followed him out to the verandah, and we spoke on occult subjects lor * few murates, and then" he said to me, ♦I will "give you a speoial experience, which •will give you' something to think about:' Ju3t what I. wanted I •' He eaid, • Shut your eyea andimagine yon we- in your .bedroom in • your .bungalow.' I" did so. Heß&id, 'Now open your eyes;' I opened them to find that I was in my bedroom— three-quarters of a mile in two seconds I H« said, ' Now shut them again, and we will rejoin our friends.' But I wouldn't have that at eny price, because the idea of hypnotic delusion was still present >to my mind ; and, if it were so, I wanted to see how^e would get over the dilemma. '"He did not try to persuade me, bat only > laughed, saying, 'Well, if you will not, then, jgood-bye,' and be was gone. I instantly looked at my watcb, as I had done in bis verandah at the commencement of the experiment, and two minutes bad barely elapeed." IHB HOnSE AND^CAUT ALSO LEV.TATED 1 " I walked straight 'out of my bedroom to the dining room, where two of -my friends were sitting. They rtarefl, and wanted to know 'how the .deuce I got there I' So. I Bat down and told them all that bad occurred. The dcotor eaid, ' Lst us Bee the grapes.' I felt in my pocket and they were there all-right, acd passed them to him. He -turned them over very auspiciously, ernelt them, and finally tasted one. • They're the real thing, my boy ; _g«nnine English bkek • Hamburgs,' he said, and proceededto devour the lot; -Then the oaptain«aid, ' But Where's ' the tat ? ' I replied that I bad forgotten all ■about it ; I supposed tbat lie had better Bend for it. Galling: a servant, Retold him to .go < to the stables and send a.Byoe up/to Sahib Jacob's bungalow for the tat. In a few minutes he returned with the syce, who said that the tat was at that moment safe in his' own stable. ' We stared .'at one another, and then went to see for ourselves. Sure enough he was there." The writer of this amazing narrative, J\lr Stead remarks in concluding bis extracts, says that his chief defect is a want of imagination. He can only describe what he has Been. It would appear that, i£ he had seen co much, it leaves no room for imagination toplay.